Final Project

After the ten chapters or(tuorials) in my web design class is over, I have to come up with a 15 page web site for a final project. It doesnt have to be hosted online so that's a little relief. Since we are all beginners we will be using mostly html.

First of all the textbook only teaches us, html
a bit of xhtml(which I havent learned yet. its last)
a bit of css(which is the chapter we are on now)
and a little java(which is after this chapter)

I am trying to come up with a good web site that will blow my professor and friends out of the water, except there is one problem:

I cant create an awesome website without awesome graphics, I have photoshop but it belongs to my girlfriends brother, so I dont use it often even though he doesnt, but its on the family computer. Other than that I have no money to afford anything else.

How would I create a website that looks great without great software?
I am alos trying to do a photographer website, since my buddy is a photographer and doesn't have one, hoping he would pay for the hosting.


I need help big time. There is less than a month and we have to use everything we have learned in the book. I am trying to plan early and get a head start.


Thanks for reading. lol

Try using the GIMP. It's free version on Photoshop in the essence.

Following on from Alex...

You can download GIMP from thier website.. http://www.gimp.org/

How well with gimp work on a windows vista system. Also will it be user friendly and easy to learn. Time is of the essence. Having a fiance and trying to get our life started doesn't allow me much time to learn a whole new program. I have researched it in the past and I couldn't even figure out how to download it.

Thanks

You can download it here: http://www.gimp.org/downloads/...

It works fine with a windows system.
I have to admit it's a big learning curve though.
Maybe someone can suggest some site for GIMP Training.
Good luck!

Gimp sounds like it has a learning curve as all graphic programs have!

Maybe you need to go with PLAN B!
I'd ask your photographer friend for some of his best pictures and run on that idea. Make a great photographer/gallery site and you are killing two birds with one stone.

All you need is a nice font to make his name as a logo and run with photos.

Hope this helps!

Thanks. Can anyone suggest any websites with perhaps gimp tutorials or something?

There are plenty of gimp tutorials on the net ... just google 'em

As the others said ... every graphic program has their learning curve (like anything else).

Although the GIMP's learning curve is rather steep.

How steep? I guess I am gonna run into a couple of obstacles huh? Ah whatever it's life. 'll just have to make the best of my resources I guess. I just want to get a good grade on this.

Personally I found it hard and just resorted to PS, but I didn't put much effort into it.
Good luck mate!

Thanks. Yeah I have had Photoshop experience and would prefer it over anything else. But We will see how this goes.

Or you can go to Adobe's website and download the trial version http://www.adobe.com/downloads/
I also have to agree with Lchad in that some photos and the use of some css to display the text would be nice as well.

I have just learned how to do different styles for text in css. What would be the best way to show his gallery? Should I use a flash slide show, or allow visitors to click and view larger images? Also should I embed watermarks on his images?

Try lightbox (google it).

Wow now that is cool. I didn't know you had to have a seperate page for java?

I have been trying and trying and can't figure the lightbox thing out.

Lightbox is very simple to implement .... just follow the instructions to the letter.

nvm I got it thanks again